Manual override for pressure operated systems



March 10, 1953 w. A. RAY 2,630,785

MANUAL OVERRIDE FOR PRESSURE OPERATED SYSTEMS Original Filed Oct. 17,1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l Summer MAL/AM A. PAY

(Ittorneg.

w. A. RAY 2,630,785

March 10, 1953 MANUAL OVERRIDE FOR PRESSURE OPERATED SYSTEMS 4Sheet-Sheet 3 Original Filed Oct. 17, 1942 v 123 L L 3nnentor;

3 m MAL/AM A. PAY FI I F j e- Ottorneg.

W. A. RAY

March 10, 1953 MANUAL OVERRIDE FOR PRESSURE OPERATED SYSTEMS OriginalFiled Oct. 17, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 3nnentor; MAL/AM A. PAY

attorney.

Patented Mar. 10, 1953 MANUAL OVERRIDE FOR PRESSURE OPERATED SYSTEMSWilliam A. Ray, North Hollywood, -Calif., assignor to General Controls00., a corporation Original application October 17, 1942, Serial No.

462,363. Divided and this application November 16, 1948, Serial No.60,342

3 Claims.

This invention relates to control systems operated by fluid pressure,and to valve structures adapted for use therein; the present applicationbeing a division of my copending application Serial No. 462,363, filedOctober 17, 1942, and issued December 14, 1948, as Patent No. 2,455,948.

The control system of this invention, while obviously susceptible ofother uses, is particularly adapted to the actuation, by hydraulicpressure, of movable parts of an airplane, such as wing flaps,retractible landing gear, etc; the invention therefore being shown anddescribed herein in association with an airplane.

An object of this invention is to provide, in a valve-controlledhydraulic actuating system, fluid-pressure means for actuating the valvemeans, and independent mechanical means for actuating the valve meansand simultaneously rendering the fluid-pressure actuating meansineffective.

Another object is the provision of a valve structure particularlyadapted for use in a system of the character described in the precedingobject; this valve structure comprising a movable member (pivotedrocker) with which the valve means, the fluid-pressure actuating means,and the mechanical actuating means, all cooperate to eifect actuation ofthe valve.

For full understanding of the invention, and further appreciation of itsfeatures and advantages, reference is to be had to the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawing, and to the appendedclaims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view, mainly in central vertical section, of a valveembodying my invention;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are transverse sections taken generally along thelines 2--2, 3-3 and i-t, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary vertical sections taken along the lines5-5 and 6-6, re-

7 spectively, of Fig. 2;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary detail section taken along the line 'i-i ofFig. 1;

Figure 8 is a side elevation, to reduced scale, of a plurality of valvesof the kind shown in Fig. 1, joined together by a manifold;

Figure 9 is a front elevation, to reduced scale. of the valve shown inFig. 1;

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of a control system embodying myinvention, and including a schematic representation of the valve shownin the other figures;

Figure 11 is a phantom view of part of an airplane, illustrating thearrangement of parts in 2 a control system according to my invention;and

Figure 12 is a plan diagram of an airplane indioating the point fromwhich the showing of Fig. 11 is viewed.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1-9, the numeral l5 indicatesa generally-cylindrical elongated casting which forms the main body ofthe valve. As is best seen in Fig. 9, a plurality of bosses 15 extendfrom the upper right-hand portion of the main body; the bosses beingbored to provide the inlet, outlet, and two control passages of the mainvalve, which is of the fourway type. The inlet passage is indicated atIT in Figs. 5 and 3, the outlet at IS in Figs. 6, 3 and 1, one of thecontrol passages at IS in Fig. 5, and the other control passage at 20 inFigs. 6 and 1. The arrangement of the outer ends of the passages will beclear from inspection oi Fig. 8, wherein the control passages 19 and 20are in the upper bosses under caps 2| and 22, respectively; the inlet Hand outlet l8 being in the lower bosses, as indicated.

As is best seen in Fig. 3, the inlet passage l'i communicates with avertical passage 23, from which a horizontal passage 24% extendsdiagonally across the body to the exterior of the same where it isclosed by a plug 25, the passage 24 intersecting a central vertical bore26 and another vertical passage 21. The vertical passages 23 and 21extend from the top of the main body it to an irregular shaped cavity 28-(Figs. 1, 3 and 4) formed in the lower part of the body. The bottomends of passages 23 and 21 are closed, respectively, by plugs 29 (Fig.5) and 30 (Fig. 6), and above these plugs are threaded tubular valveseatmembers 3| and 32, cooperable with semispherical closure members 33 and34 from which extend valve stems 35 and 36, the upper end portions ofwhich are guided by bushings 31 and 38 threaded in the top ends of thepassages. To prevent leakage around the valve stems, the bottom ends ofthe bushings 3i and 38 are recessed to receive rubber packing rings 39and 46 which fit snugly between the stems and the walls of the recesses.These rings can roll' in the movement of the stems and are preventedfrom leaving the recesses by collars 4| and 42 formed on the stems.Urging the closure members 33 and 34 upwardly toward seating position,are compression springs 43 and 44, respectively.

Two other vertical passages 45 (Fig. 5) and 46 (Fig. 6) extend a shortdistance downward from the top surface of the main body I5, and threadedin these passages are like fittings 4'! and as which form at theirbottom ends seats for semispherical closure members 49 and 5B; theupwardly extending stems 5i and 52 of these closures being guided incentral openings through the top portions of the fittings. At the lowerends of passages 45 and 46 are compression springs 53 and 54 which urgethe closure members 49 and 50 upwardly toward seating position. In theupper portions of the fittings 41 and 48 are inclined openings 55 and 56which connect the areas above the closures 49 and 50 with a chamber 5?above the main body-i5 and formed by a cap 58 secured thereto.

As is seen in Fig. 5, a horizontal extension of the control passage I3intersects the vertical passages 23 and 45 and communicates with thearea above the closure 33 and with that below the closure 43. In asimilar manner, as is seen in Fig. 6, the other control passage 23communicates with the area above the closure 34 and with that below theclosure 53. It will thus be apparent that if the closures 33 and 50(only) aresimultaneously opened, fluid can pass from the inlet I! to thecontrol passage 19; and from the other control passage 20 to the chamber51 at top, and thence through a vertical passage 59 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4)which extends from the top surface of the main body to the lower cavity28, and to the outlet I8 which (as is seen in Fig. 3) communicates withthat cavity. Likewise, if the other pair of closures 34 and 49 (only)are simultaneously opened, fluid can then pass from the inletI'I(through the diagonal passage 24) to the control passage 20, and fromthe control passage l9 to the outlet I8. This arrangement, when operatedin the manner described, thus constitutes a four-way valve.

For selectively actuating the pairs of closures 33,50 and 34, 49, arocker 65 is mounted on a pin 66, the outer ends of which are supportedin openings through portions 61 and 68 (Fig. 2) of the main body !5which extend from the top surface of the same at the front and rear. Therocker 65 is provided with an irregular opening ,59, to reduce itsweight, and carries four screws 10 'I3 which are so positioned as toengage the topsof the valve stems 35, 36, 5t and 52, respectively, whenthe rocker is actuated. These screws are so adjusted that, when therocker is in its neutral position as shown, there is a slight clearancebetween each screw and the corresponding valve stem.

For, actuating the rocker 65, there is provided a pair of pistons 14 andI5 (Fig. 1) which are reciprocable in cylinder bores formed in the topsurface of the main body. The pistons are proengagement therewith of thepiston stem IS (the other piston stem I! limiting rotation of therocker) so that actuation of closures 33 and 50 is effected; likewise,ifpiston I5 is operated, the .rocker is rotated counterclockwise toactuate closures 34 and 49. Round-bottomed recesses 82 and 83, in theunderside of the rocker, loosely receive the top portions of the pistonstems and serve to prevent their lateral displacement.

The .means whereby pressure fluid from the inlet II is'supplied to thepiston cylinders to efiect actuation of the rocker, will now bedescribed. Fitting within the lower end of bore 26 (Fig. 1), which is inconstant communication with the inlet I7, is the upper end portion of anelongated hollow cylindrical member 96 which is secured in position byears 9I which extend from its opposite sides, these cars being attachedby screws to a rhomboidal-shaped boss 92 (Fig. 4) which projects fromthe top surface 93 of the cavity 28. The upper portion of member 98constitutes a three-way valve and is bored to provide an upper seat 34for a closure member 95 having a stem 96 guided in a bushing 91, whichbushing also provides a lower valve seat 98 for the closure. When theclosure is in the position shown, fluid can pass from the bore 26,through an opening 93 in the top of member 90, around the upper seat 34,and thence through radial openings I60 to a circumferential recess HH.No bias, other than gravity, is provided for the closure 35, thepressure of the inlet fluid being suflicient to maintain it in itsnormal position in engagement with the lower seat 98. To prevent leakagearound the upper portion of member 99, packing rings I 02 are providedin a pair of circumferential recesses located respectively above andbelow the recess IilI. Communicating with the recess I4! is a horizontalpassage I33 which extends generally forward to the exterior of the mainbody I5, where it is plugged; and joining the passage I03 is a verticalpassage I04 drilled in the solid front portion of the main body (seeFig. 4.) from its bottom surface.

Secured to the underside of the main body I5 is a sub-body I35 whereinis provided a pair of electromagnetically operated three-way pilotvalves, generally indicated at I35 and 07. The pilot valve I66 comprisesa hollow cylindrical member I98, threaded in an opening in the lefthandend of the sub-body, which provides toward its inner end a valve seatI89 cooperable with a closure Hi3 having a stem iII which is guided in abushing M2, the bushing also providing an outer seat H3 for the closure.In the bushing are inclined openings H4 which communicate with anenlargement of the stem bore adjacent the seat H3, and with slots H5 inthe threaded surface of the bushing. The space between the seats I39 andH3 communicates, by means of radial openings H6, with a recess II'Iaround the periphery of member I08. Through the side wall of member I08are openings H3 which connect the space at the left of bushing I I2 withan annular recess H9 formed in the surface of the sub-body opening, andfrom this recess a vertical passage I20 extends to the top surface ofthe sub-body. By the arrangement described, it will be seen that, whenthe closure I I3 is in the position shown, the inner recess H7 is incommunication with the cavity 28 in the main body, and thus with theoutlet I8. Around the member 533, intermediate the recesses II! and H9,is a packing ring I2I which is tightly received in a recess formed inthe surrounding surface of the sub-body.

The right-hand pilot valve Iil'I is identical in construction with thepilot valve I06 and its essential elements have therefore been assignedthe same numerals as those of the corresponding ones in pilot valve 83,but with a prime mark added. Openings I22 and I22, through the innerends of the members 108 and IE8, communicate with a horizontal passageI23 in the sub-body, from which passage there extends a short vertiofthe armatures.

cal passage I24, a horizontal passage I25, and

a vertical passage I26 which registers with the passage I04 in the mainbody. In a similar manner, the recesses II! and Ill communicate,respectively, with vertical aligned passages I21 and I2? formed in thesub-body and in the front and rear portions of the main body (see Figs.3 and l) the upper ends of these passages communicating by horizontalpassages (the rear one being shown at I28 in Fig. 1) with the areasbelow the pistons i4 and I5. In brief: the passage I23, joining thepilot valves I06 and I01, is in communication with the inlet I! whenclosure 95 is in the position shown; recesses II! and I ll,respectively, are in communication with the areas below th pistons 74and I5; and (as has previously been mentioned) the outer ends of thepilot valves are in communication with the outlet I0.

It is thus apparent that, if the closure IIO of pilot valve I09 is movedout of engagement with the seat I09 and into engagement with the otherseat I I3, pressure fluid can then pass from the main inlet Ilto thepiston I4 to effect clockwise rotation of the rocker 65; and, when theclosure is returned to its original position, the fluid below piston 14can escape to the outlet IS, the piston moving downward under the forceof its bias spring so that the rocker reassumes its neutral position.Likewise, if the closure of pilot valve 101 is similarly actuated,piston I5 is operated to effect counterclockwise rotation of the rocker.

The ali ned vertical passages I04, 126, I21, and I 2i" are sealinglyconnected at the junction of the main and sub bodies by suitable packingmeans which are not shown in the drawing but may be of the typedisclosed in my Patent No. 2,364,659 issued December 12, 1944.

For operating the pilot valves I06 and I01, electromagnets I35 and I35are mounted in enlargements of the pilot-valve end openings andcooperate respectively with armatures I31 and I30 which are biased awayfrom the electromagnets by compression springs I39 and I40 contained incentral hollow'extensions MI and I42 These extensions are slidable inthe outer openings of members I08 and I58 and bear against the outerends of the closure stems III and III so that the closures are normallyheld in the positions shown bythe force of the bias springs. When one ofthe electromagnets is energized, its armature is attracted out ofengagement with the closure stem, thus permitting the pressure of thefluid at the inner end of the pilot valve to force the closure outwardlyinto, engagement with its seat H3 or IIS'. As is seen in the diagram ofFig. 10, the

electromagnets are so electrically connected that only one of them canbe energized at a time. The electromagnets illustrated are of thegeneral type disclosed in my copending Patent No. 2,321,853 issued June15, 1943, and need no further description here.

Mechanical means for manually operating the rocker 55, independently ofthe pistons I4 and i5, will now be described. Mounted in ballbearingsI43 and I44 received in openings through the lower walls of the mainbody I5 adjacent the cavity 28, is a cam shaft I45; the ouwardlyextending portion of the shaft being sealed by a gland I46, and a capI41 which closes the left-hand end of the shaft opening. The cams I48and I49 of shaft I45 are arranged to actuate,

through vertical bores in the upper portion of the main body and areengageable with the underside of rocker 65 at its opposite ends; therods being of such length that, when the cam shaft is in its neutralposition as shown, they do not interfere with the actuation of therocker by the pistons. The cams are both of the shape shown in Fig. '7,but are reversed with respect to each other so that normally rod I50rests on shoulder I52 of cam I48, and rod I5I on shoulder I53 of camI49. When the cam shaft I45 is turned clockwise (as viewed from itsright-hand end) rod I5I is raised to effect counterclockwise rotation ofthe rocker; the other rod I50 correspondingly falling slightly bygravity. Means (not shown) should be provided for limiting the rotationof the cam shaft so as to prevent farther downward movement of theundriven rod, or collars may be provided on the upper outer ends of therods for that purpose. the cam shaft is turned counterclockwise,clockwise rotation of the rocker is eifected.

Intermediate the cams I48 and I49, the shaft I45 is provided withanother cam surface, or concavity, I54 (Fig. '7) which cooperates withmeans for actuating the closure 95. These means include a tubularplunger I55 which is slidable in the lower tubular portion of the member90. Threaded in the bottom end of the plunger is a member I56 whichcarries below it a roller I51 which bears against the cam surface I54. Asliding fit in the upper end of the plunger is a member I58 which isupwardly urged by a spring I59 compressed between it and the lowermember I55; upward movement of member I58 being limited by th inwardlturned upper edge of the plunger member. The member I58 has a concentricopening which extends downwardly from its outer surface for receivingthe lower portion of the valve stem 96; the depth of this opening beingsuch that there is normally a small clearance below the valve stem. Toprevent rotation of the plunger I55, the roller member I56 is providedwith a through-pin I50, the outer ends of which are guided in slots I6Icut in the lower portion of the member 90, as is best seen in Fig. 7. vWhen shaft I45 is turned in either direction from its normal position,before the rod I50 or .I5I engages the rocker 65 the roller. I5'I risesonto the concentric portion ofthe shaft, thereby effecting movement ofclosure 95 into tight engagement with itsupper seat 94 (the spring I59yielding in the final upward movement of the roller) so that the supplyof pressure fluid to the pilot valves I06 and I01 is obstructed. The

, lower seat 98 of closure 95 being uncovered, if

either of the pilot valve closures then happens to be in itselectrically operated position (or, due to some defect, has failed toreturn to its normal position) the fluidcompressed below the mechanicalactuation of the rocker, and is essential when the fluid employed is anincompressible liquid. The cylindrical body portion of closure 95'is aclose fit in the bores adjacent the seats and is'of such length thatwhen it is midway between its extreme moved .positions bothrespectively, rods I50 and I 5| which extend f hese' r sarea-Simultaneously"closed byiit,

Similarly, when' 7 :so rthati-butslight; :leakageaof Ifiuid =can occur,

evenfifztheclosureis, actuated slowly.

acham'bers to. a source of pressure fluidand to -.:a return-therefor.asis indicated by thearrows. The control;.passages :IQ. and '20 aresimilarly aconnectedto T--fittings II'I by hollow screws, the naps .21.and .22 of which have already been referried-to.

jirr the 'diagram of Fig-10, the elements have been assigned'ithesamenumerals as those. of the corresponding elements .in, the valve struc--zture .idescribed hereinabove. To simplify :the showing, the :outletpassages have been omitted; small arrows being employedin the diagram to.;indicate the outlet openings of the several valves. 'IYhe--rocl5ereactuated four-way valve is ':shown connectedto control theoperation of a :fluid pressuremotor, I18, comprising a cylinder -II9wherein: is-reciprocable a piston I88 having .an 'exteriorlyextendingstem I8I; the chambers I 82and-:I83,nat opposite sides of the piston,bein :connectedzrespectively to the controlpas- -sages.19 ,and 2110f thevalve. With the parts in the positions shown, if switch arm I84 is movedtintoengagement withcontaot I85, the electromagnet. I 3.5,:isenergizedbyitselectrical connec- :tion :with: source 186,; and armatureI3! is at- ;tracted; the pressure of the inlet fluid then beingeffective to move the pilot valve closure III) to the left. ,Theresultant operation of piston I4 efieots clockwise tilting of the rocker65 so that the closures-33 and 50 are opened; pressure fluid :passingaround closure 33. to the chamber I82,

and exhausting from the other'chamber I83 around closure 50the pistonI80 therefore moving upwardly. If, when or before the piston IBIlhasreachedthe limit of its travel, the switch .arrn I84 .is -.-'returned toits neutral position, the v Similarly, if the switch arm I84 is movedinto en agement with the .othercontact I81, the electromagnet I36is-energized, with the result that pistonlS "is operated and the otherpair of .(5108111883 and -49 "are opened-the piston I80 accordinglymoving downward. -If the cam shaft 1451'sturned from its neutralposition, as shown, thevalve '95 is first-raised to obstructpassage ofpressurefluid to the pilot valves I06 and I01,

' and, if one-of them is then in operated condition, to :permit ventingof its associated piston ll-or i; continuedrotation of the cam shaftneffectingthroughrod I 50 or I5I, tilting of the --rocker toactuate thefour-way :valve.

ln' Fig. :.l1 the groupof: valves of Fig. '8' are 9peratiqn ofsuchmovable partsthereof as .win

.iiaps, -:retract ible landingsear... or .bombl .doors. -Sothat thepar-tsof the airplane shown .in. Fig. 11 can more readily be identified,the point from which the view is taken is indicated at X in Fig. .12.The numeral .200. indicates the starboard wing on which-an engine,generally indicated at 2M, is mounted. At the rear of the engine fire---wall.202 is the valve group 203, the 'fiuid inlet and outletconnections 204 and 205 of whichextend respectively to a pump 206,driven byfthe engine,- and to .a reservoir 201 .for the fluid deliveredby the pump. The control passages of one of .the group of valves areshown, by way of example, connected by pipes 288 and 209 to a fluidpressure-motor or strut ZIO .(of the type .shown at 118 in Fig, 10)-.thepiston stem of which is attached to .a wing-flap 2.

From the electromagnets of the valves shown in Fig. 11 an electricalcable, contained in a protective pipev 252, extends toa three-gangswitch 2 I3 mounted .in the control station vin the fuselage of the,airplane, which fuselage. is defined. by the bulkhead rings 2| 4. Theswitches .are of the three-position type shown in Fig. 10,

and their operating knobs are preferably so .arranged that the positionsthereof indicate the corresponding direction of movement of the wingflapor other actuated .part. Also extendingto the control station areoperating rods 2I5 which are extensions of the cam shafts I45.Thehandles .of these rods may be located in some place which isaccessible to the flight engineer or pilots in case of emergency, suchasfailure of the electrical system, but where they are not in the .way ofthe other control devices.

By thearrangement shown in Fig. 11, it is apparent that the requisiteamount of hydraulic tubing is greatly reduced with respect to that in aconventional hydraulic control system of an airplane, and that the pointof concentration ofthe valves and tubing is such that these, parts areprotected from damage to .a considerable degree. The general arrangement.is also advantageous in .a single-engine airplane in whichthe controlstation .(.or. dual control stations) is usually at some distance, fromthe engine. The feal ture. of the arrangement of Fig. lllis claimedinsaid patent, No. 2,455,948,.which resulted from the application .ofwhich the present application is a, division.

The specific embodiments -of .my invention herein shown and..describedare obviouslysusceptible 0f modification without departing from thespirit ofthe invention,,.and I intendthere- .foretobe limitedonly by thescope of thee}:-

pended claims.

vTofacilitate understanding ofthe .claims,.it

is pointed out that elements recited therein are exemplified in-thespecific construction illustrated (see Fig. 10) as follows: the.fmovable memberrocher t5, the fiuid pressure operated -means-plungers74-75, the mechanical :actuat- -fiuid pressure operated means foractuating said member between positions, asource of pressure .fiuid forsaid actuating means, valve means for -.controlling supply ofthe'pressure fiuid tosaid ;:actuating means and .efiective in oneposition to obstruct such .supply, and 'mecha-nical meansmovablednyalternate directions from a neutral ishownsmounted in:-an.airplane-to control .the. '75 position:;and effective-in: initialmovement from said position in a given direction to actuate said valvemeans to said one position and by continued movement in said directionto independently and mechanically'actuate said movable member toward itscorresponding position.

2. In a control system: a movable member, fluid pressure operated meansfor actuating said member between positions, a source of pressure fluidfor said actuating means, valve means for controlling supply of thepressure fluid to said actuating means and efiective in one position toobstruct such supply and to vent the actuating means, and mechanicalmeans movable in alternate directions from a neutral position andeffective in initial movement from said position in a given direction toactuate said valve means to said one position and by continued movementin said direction to independently and mechanically actuate said movablemember toward its corresponding position while maintaining the valvemeans in said one position.

3. In a control system: a movable member, fluid pressure operated meansfor actuating said member between positions, a source of pressure fluidfor said actuating means, means defining a passageway connecting saidactuating means with said source, electrically operated valve meanscontrolling said passageway, mechanically operable valve means alsocontrolling said passageway and located ahead of said electricallyoperated valve means, said mechanically oper- REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 966,601 Rosenfelt Aug. 9, 19101,024,033 Seybert Apr. 24, 1912' 1,962,677 Dickey June 12, 19342,127,877 Maglott Aug. 23, 1938 2,166,206 Benson July 18, 1939 2,179,179Fischel Nov. 7, 1939 2,244,215 Pescara June 3, 1941 2,352,140 Trott June20, 1944 2,390,882 Hopkins Dec. 11, 1945

